Improving Official Statistics
Improving Official Statistics
Improving Official Statistics
Improving Official Statistics
Dear IAOS member
This update includes information of interest to all IAOS members. This month, it includes:
The IAOS Friends of Official Statistics (FOS) will host a virtual side event at the 2026 UN Statistical Commission in support of the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (FPOS).
This will explore how the FOS Network can support efforts to uphold and strengthen the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics. You’ll also learn more about the upcoming United Nations Consultative Advisory Board on the FPOS and its envisioned role and discuss how the FOS Network could support it in practice. See here for more information and joining instructions. Look forward to seeing you there.
IAOS is looking forward with enthusiasm to the 66th ISI World Statistics Congress (WSC), scheduled for 11-15 July 2027 in Lusaka, Zambia.
We heartily encourage submission of a wide range of proposals for Invited Paper Sessions (IPS) at WSC 2027. These proposals are due on 9 April, 2026, and will be reviewed through the standard invited-session evaluation process. Guidelines for Sessions Organisers are at Guidelines for Session Organisers, Chairs, Presenters and Discussants. There is also A step-by-step guide on how to submit your IPS proposal in the system
The portal for submission of Invited Session Proposals is at https://www.isi-next.org/proposals/role-options/51/1/ For any questions about technical details of the proposal submission process, please e-mail: scientific@isi-wsc.org.
IAOS is represented on the Scientific Programme Committee by John Eltinge from the United States.
I invite you to listen to my message warmly encouraging you to participate in the 20th IAOS Conference, to be held in Vilnius from 12-14 May 2026. See 2026 IAOS conference video Gary Dunnet
A reminder that early bird registration is open until 17 March 2026. For more information on key dates, registration fees, and practical details, please visit the Conference website.
We would like to draw your attention to available financial support opportunities for statisticians from developing countries. Financial support is provided by Eurostat, through a grant managed by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). Further details are available on the conference website, where you can find the form: Financing possibilities.
Financial possibilities vary by institution but generally cover travel, food, accommodation, visa costs (with the exception that visa expenses are not reimbursable when travel to another country is required to obtain the visa), and conference and short-course registration fees. A committee of representatives from all involved institutions will make the funding decisions, and awardees will be notified in due course.
If you have any questions, please visit the conference website or contact IAOS 2026 Vilnius Conference Team iaos2026@stat.gov.lt. We look forward to welcoming all participants to Vilnius!
A reminder of the upcoming webinar to commerate our 40th anniversary. This will feature Jean Louis Bodin, Stephen Penneck, Denise Lievesley and Ola Awad. Contact angie.simms@stats.govt.nz or use the following link: Join the meeting now, at the appropriate time.
We are looking for volunteers to present webinars on topics related to Official Statistics. If you have a proposal, send it to ContactIAOS@gmail.com. We welcome proposals that have either a regional focus (recognising the different time zones that we all operate in), or a global perspective. Thanks to those that have already submitted ideas. We will be in touch soon.
A reminder that the IAOS 2026 Young Statistician Prize closes on 10 April 2026. This is a chance for young official statisticians to enter and for older statisticians to support colleagues through mentoring. See https://iaos-isi.org/ysp/ , for more information.
Gary Dunnet
IAOS President 2025-2027